Politeness is highly valued in Japanese culture, and using the appropriate expressions to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ is essential. Here are the most common ways to show politeness in Japanese:
**Please:**
1. お願いします (Onegaishimasu)
This is a versatile phrase that can be translated as ‘please’ or ‘I request.’ It is used when making a request, asking for a favor, or seeking assistance.
**Thank You:**
1. ありがとう (Arigatou)
This is a casual and informal way to say ‘thank you’ in Japanese. It is commonly used among friends and family.
2. ありがとうございます (Arigatou gozaimasu)
This is a more polite and formal way to say ‘thank you.’ It is suitable for most situations, including expressing gratitude to strangers, colleagues, or people of higher status.
**Additional Polite Forms:**
In even more formal or respectful situations, you can add the polite suffix ‘-ます (masu)’ to ‘お願いします (Onegaishimasu)’ and ‘ありがとう (Arigatou)’ to increase the level of politeness:
– Please: お願いします (Onegaishimasu) → お願いいたします (Onegai itashimasu)
– Thank You: ありがとうございます (Arigatou gozaimasu) → ありがとうございました (Arigatou gozaimashita)
The polite forms are used when speaking with someone of higher status, in professional settings, or when showing utmost respect to others.
**Combining Please and Thank You:**
When making a request and expressing gratitude simultaneously, you can use the phrase “お願いいたします、ありがとうございます (Onegai itashimasu, arigatou gozaimasu)” to show respect and appreciation in one expression.
Remember that using the appropriate polite expressions is an important aspect of Japanese communication. Being mindful of politeness and cultural norms will show respect and consideration towards others in various social and professional settings.
